Collapsible fitting

ABSTRACT

An articulated framework especially for retractably supporting a typewriter in a desk, said framework including bracket members for being fixed to a desk within a recess provided therein for receiving the typewriter and each bracket member having a pair of parallel links pivoted thereto with a typewriter support platform pivotally connected to the other ends of the links for movement in parallelism with itself between working and retracted positions. Each bracket member is provided with a connecting flange laterally offset therefrom which is fixed to the desk and the pairs of links are interconnected to move in unison. Counterbalancing spring means are provided to counterbalance the weight of the typewriter and arresting means are provided for restraining the links while supporting the platform in extended position.

United States Patent 1 Kneile [451 Feb. 18, 1975 COLLAPSIBLE FITTING [75] Inventor: Karl Kneile, l-lolzmaden/Teck,

Germany [22] Filed: Dec. 14, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 424,760 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [58] Field of Search 248/16, 124, 23, 278, 281; 211/97; 108/138; 312/24, 30, 208, 272, 323

17,842 l/l930 Australia 312/24 Primary ExaminerRoy D. Frazier Assistant ExaminerRobert A. Hafer Attorney, Agent, or FirmWalter Becker [57] ABSTRACT An articulated framework especially for retractably supporting a typewriter in a desk, said framework including bracket members for being fixed to a desk within a recess provided therein for receiving the typewriter and each bracket member having a pair of parallel links pivoted thereto with a typewriter support platform pivotally connected to the other ends of the links for movement in parallelism with itself between working and retracted positions. Each bracket member is provided with a connecting flange laterally offset therefrom which is fixed to the desk and the pairs of links are interconnected to move in unison. Counterbalancing spring means are provided to counterbalance the Weight of the typewriter and arresting means are provided for restraining the links while supporting the platform in extended position.

15 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures COLLAPSIBLE FITTING The present invention relates to a collapsible fitting for pivoting supports out and into furniture, or the like, for instance cupboards, which fitting is provided with two lateral parallelogram linkage systems which are arranged on holding means, two guiding means of which are positively interconnected by a bar within the region of their linkage areas. Those ends of the bar which face away from the holding means for the fitting have linked thereto support holders and also have associated therewith an arresting device for the pivoted-out position while the fitting holders form connecting flanges for connection to the furniture, or the like, and form bearing brackets for the guiding means of the parallelogram rod systems. The above pivoting supports may, for instance, have typewriters on a desk, parts of kitchen furniture, or the like.

It is an object of the present invention so to design a collapsible fitting of the above mentioned type that in spite of a simple construction, an easy handling and assembly will be rather simple so that the moveability of the guiding means will not be affected even if on the inner sides of the furniture piece, or the like, adjacent to the outward pivoting side there are provided parts which protrude relatively far inwardly, such as hinges, locks, or the like.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification, in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: I

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of a collapsible fitting according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial section taken along the line IIII of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 represents a top view of the arrangement according to FIG. 2.

The above outlined object has been realized according to the present invention by offsetting toward the outside the connecting flange of at least one fitting holder relative to the pertaining bearing bracket.

For purposes of obtaining a light construction, the bearing bracket and the connecting flange are arranged in the form of plane plates while they are located parallel to each other in two planes.

In order to assure as large a connecting surface as possible, the bearing bracket and the connecting flange have in the longitudinal direction of the pivoted out guiding means approximately equal length.

Expediently, the bearing bracket and the connecting flange merge with each other by a preferably stripshaped connecting section which is located at a right angle to said bearing bracket and connecting flange, in such a way that a relative high strength will be assured. The connecting bracket and the connecting flange may, in a simple manner, form one single piece and preferably are made of sheet metal.

According to a further development of the invention the front end of the fitting holder is provided with a shield which extends up to the connecting plane of the connecting flange. This shield which is preferably formed by the front angled-off end of the bearing bracket so that it will be avoided in a simple manner that the space between the outside of the bearing bracket and the oppositely located inner surface of the furniture piece, or the like, is open or can be seen from the outside. Furthermore, in this way, sharp edges at the front end of the bearing bracket will be avoided.

Furthermore, at the rear end of the fitting holder, there may be provided a counterbearing which is located on the inside of the bearing bracket and is intended for a weight balancing spring resting against the parallelogram linkage system, said weight balancing spring being designed as pressure spring. This counterbearing is, for purposes of a simple construction, formed preferably by the rear angled-off end of the bearing bracket and assures a safe support of the weight balancing spring.

For purposes of additionally increasing the strength of the fitting holder in spite of a light construction, there are provided strengthening ribs in the form of preferably inclined stiffening corrugations or the like. These stiffening ribs are arranged in the inwardly protruding angle between the bearing shield. and the connecting section and/or between the connecting flange and the connecting section and/or between the bearing bracket and the counterbearing. According to a still further development of the invention, the arresting device has two arresting levers which are located on those inner sides of the bearing bracket which face each other. These arresting levers are interconnected through an uninterrupted bearing bar which is located in the pivot axes of said levers. Those ends of said hearing bar which protrude beyond the arresting lever are axially displaceable and extend in a rotatable manner through bores of the bearing brackets. Due to the design of the fitting holders according to the invention, the employment of such non-divided and thus structurally simple bearing bar is possible without affecting the possibilities of the equalizing of tolerance differences at the spacing of the connecting surfaces of the furniture pieces, or the like. This is due to the fact that the ends of the bearing rod may, due to their bearing brackets being located at their outsides in spaced relationship to the connecting planes can, more or less far, be inserted into the bores of said bearing brackets.

Expediently, the bearing bar is located above the pivoted-out guiding means, preferably in the uppermost front range ofthe bearing brackets, while the arresting lever is located on those inner sides of the guiding means which face each other, so that a very simple assembly will be assured. 7

According to another suggestion, in conformity with the invention, on the inner side of the respective bearing bracket above the upper one of the pivoted-out guiding means, and in front of the linkage area of said guiding means there is provided an abutment plate for said guiding means which, in a simple manner, is formed by a part which is bent out of the bearing bracket.

The abutment plate may additionally serve for locat ing the arresting lever in its rest position when it has an abutment surface for the pertaining arresting lever located in rest position and is arranged preferably below the pivot axis of the arresting lever and behind the respective arresting lever.

If the abutment plate has a preferably hook-shaped counterbearing for a tension spring connected to the pertaining arresting lever, the abutment plate maysimultaneously also be employed for linkage connection with the tension spring.

For further simplifying the construction of the fitting according to the invention, a synchronous movement bar which in pivoted-out position interconnects the upper guiding means, has its ends directly connected to said guiding means, preferably by welding. A favorable arrangement is obtained when said synchronous movement bar is located adjacent to the pivoted axis, preferably on that side of said synchronous movement bar which faces away from the support holders, at the pertaining ends of the guiding means.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, FIG. 1 shows a collapsible fitting according to the invention which comprises an image symmetrically to the longitudinal plane of said fitting, fitting holders 1 which respectively form a bearing bracket and a connecting flange 3. The bearing bracket 2 and the connecting flange 3 are connected to each other by means of a strip 4 which is located at a right angle thereto. The plate-shaped bearing bracket 2 is offset relative to the pertaining connecting flange which is plane and parallel to said bearing bracket 2 and, more specifically, is offset in the direction to the oppositely located fitting l by the width of the connecting strip 4. The bearing bracket 2 is wider than the connecting flange 3 by approximately twice the width of the connecting flange 3.

The front end 5 of the respective bearing bracket is angled-off outwardly at a right angle in such a way that the end edge is located approximately in the plane of the connecting surface of the connecting flange 3 and forms a sight aperture (Sichtblende). The connecting flange 3 thus slightly protrudes beyond the front end of the bearing bracket 2 while this end of the connecting flange 3 has a receiving bore 6 for a connecting screw, or the like.

Slightly adjacent to the rear end of the bearing bracket 2 on the inner side thereof and in the immediate vicinity to the lower edge there is linked a guiding means 7 by means of a pivot bearing bolt 8. This guiding means extends parallel to the bearing bracket 2 and is located on the inner side thereof while having the form of a flat bar. A second guiding means 9 is slightly above the bolt 8 and closely adjacent to the front end of the respective bearing bracket 2 pivotably linked by means of a pivot bearing bolt 10. With the guiding means 7 parallel to the longitudinal direction of the holder 1, the guiding means 9 is parallel to said guiding means 7 and is located on the top side thereof. The pivot axes of the guiding means 7, 9 are located at a right angle to the connecting flanges 3.

At those ends of the guiding means 7, 9 which face away from the bolts 8, 10 there is respectively linked thereto a carrier angle 11. The carrier angles 1 l engage the inner sides of the guiding means 7, 9, which inner sides face each other and are linked about axles parallel to the bolts 8, 9 in such a way that a parallel rod system is obtained. From the pivoted-out position illustrated in FIG. 1, the carrier angles 11 to which, for instance, an apparatus plate may be connected can be pivoted downwardly and backwardly while the apparatus plate remains continuously in its horizontal position.

To the rear ends of the guiding members 9 pivoted upwardly, there is connected a synchronous movement bar 12 which is parallel to the pivot axis of said guiding means 9 and extends over the width of the collapsible fitting. The bar 12 has a rectangular cross section. The bar 12 has its end surface 13 directly connected to those inner sides of the guiding means 9 which face each other. This connection may, for instance, be effected by welding. The bar 12 is located in the immediate vicinity of the pertaining pivot bearing bolt 12 and, more specifically, on that side of bolt 10 which faces away from the carrying angle 11.

On that bottom side of bar 12 which occupies a horizontal position when the fitting is pivoted out, and adjacent to the bearing brackets 2 or the inner sides of the guiding means 7 there are connected two downwardly extending arms 14. Each of these arms has a counterbearing bolt 15 for a weight balancing spring 16 which is arranged in a fork. The counterbearing bolts 15 are parallel to the bolts 8, 10. The rear ends of the bearing brackets 2 are angled off toward each other at a right angle in a such a way that they form counterbearings 17 with an eye-shaped bushing 18. The weight balancing springs 16 which are illustrated in FIG. 1 in a nonassembled condition respectively comprise a profile guiding rod 19 which is equipped at its front end with a supporting disc 20 and ahead thereof with a bearing member 21 and has displaceably guided adjacent to its rear end a bearing disc 22. The disc 22 is displaceably guided in the longitudinal direction of said guiding bar 19. Between the disc 22 and the disc 20 there is provided a helical pressure spring 23 which extends around the bar 19. The rear end of the bar 19 is passed through a bore in the bushing 18 so that the disc or bearing ring 22 is pivotally located in the bushing 18. The member 21 is brought into engagement with the bolt 15 so that the springs 23 will resiliently urge the collapsible fitting toward the pivoted-out position.

On the inwardly protruding angles between the bearing bracket 2 and the connecting strips 4 on one hand and the connecting flange and the connecting strip 4 on the other hand, and also between the bearing bracket 2 and the counter bracket 7 there are respectively pro vided reinforcing ribs 24, 25 and 26 in the form of embossed corrugations or beads which extend at an incline over the inwardly projecting corner and bring about a considerably strengthening of the fitting holder 1 bent out of sheet metal.

Above the upper guiding means9 which is in its pivoted-out position, there is in each bearing bracket 2 provided a passage bore 27 for engagement by the ends 29 of a bearing bar 28 which may be of a cylindrical design and which extends parallel to the pivot axes of the guiding means 9, 7. Within the region of the inner sides of the guiding means 7, 8, which inner sides face each other, there is connected to the bearing bar 28 designed as a continuous one piece, one arresting lever 30 each which extends downwardly. This connection may be effected, for instance, by welding. Each arresting lever 30 is, at its rearwardly pointing edge within the region of its lower end provided with a recess 31 for the engagement by an arresting bolt 32. Bolt 32 is provided on the inner side of the pertaining guiding means 7 which occupies a lower position when it is in its pivoted-out position. By means of this arresting lever 30 the parallelogram bar system is safely held in its pivotedout position.

Between one of the two levers 30 and the pertaining guiding means 9 which in pivoted-out position is located in its upper position there is on said guiding means 9. displaceably mounted a pull rod 33 which is approximately parallel to the guiding means 9. The pull rod 33 is at that end thereof which is located behind the lever 30 provided with a follower bolt 34 in the path of movement of which the lever 30 is located. The pull rod 33 extends up to the outside of the pertaining carrier angle 11 and there is pivotally connected to a pivotally mounted handle 35.

When the handle 35 is pulled forwardly, the levers 30 are taken along and move into release position in which the arresting bolts 32 are released so that the fitting can be moved into its pivoted-in position.

On that side of the pivot axle which faces toward the carrier angles 11, said pivot axle being formed by the bolts 10, there is provided directly above the guiding means 9 which in pivoted-out position occupy an upper position, and on each bearing bracket 2, an inwardly projecting plate 36, the inner longitudinal edge of which has a plurality of steps. The foremost step surface 37 of the plate 36 which extends at a right angle to the plane of the bearing bracket 2 serves as abutment surface for the pertaining arresting lever 30 so that the latter is precisely located in its arresting position. The abutment plate 36 is to this end located below the bearing bar 28. At the rear end, each bearing plate 36 has a rearwardly extending hook-shaped extension 38 having suspended therein a helical tension spring 39, the front end of which is connected to the pertaining lever 30 in such a way that the arresting levers 30 are by the two tension springs 39 urged toward the arresting position.

The plates 36 may also be so located that the upper guiding means 9, when in pivoted-out position, abut the bottom sides of said plates 36 and thus are secured against a further upward movement.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the specific showing in the drawing, but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A fitting adapted for connection to an article of furniture, especially for supporting a machine such as a typewriter or the like therein for movement between extended working and retracted storage positions on the article of furniture, said fitting comprising; two laterally spaced parallelogram bar systems each comprising a bracket member, a connecting flange on each said bracket member for connection thereof to the article of furniture, a pair of parallel links pivotally connected at one end to each bracket member, a support platform pivotally supported on the other ends of said links and adapted for supporting a machine such as a typewriter, at least one said connecting flange being offset relative to the respective bracket member in a direction away from the other bracket member, arresting means operatively disposed between at least one bracket member and said links for retaining said platform in extended working position, said links extending outwardly from one end of said bracket members when supporting said platform in working position and extending downwardly from said bracket members when supporting said platform in storage position, and means connecting corresponding links of said pairs of links to cause the links to pivot on said bracket members in synchronism.

2. A fitting according to claim 1 in which each said bracket member and the pertaining connecting flange are in the form of flat plates disposed in substantial parallelism.

3. A fitting according to claim 1 in which each said bracket member and the pertaining connecting flange are in the form of flat plates disposed in substantial parallelism, each said bracket member and the pertaining connecting flange being substantially coextensive in the longitudinal direction.

4. A fitting according to claim 1 in which each said bracket member and the pertaining connecting flange are in the form of flat plates disposed in substantial parallelism, each said bracket member and the pertaining connecting flange being substantially coextensive in the longitudinal direction, said one connecting flange and the respective bracket member being integral with each other and a further flange extending therebetween in a plane substantially perpendicular thereto and forming the connection between the said connecting flange and the bracket member.

5. A fitting according to claim 1 which includes a shield member mounted on the said one end of at least the bracket member pertaining to said one connecting flange and extending in the lateral direction.

6. A fitting according to claim 1 which includes a bearing member at the other end of at least one bracket member, and a counterbalancing spring bearing at one.

end against said bearing and at the other end cooperating with said parallel links for counterbalancing a load supported on said support platform.

7. A fitting according to claim 1 in which each said bracket member and each said connecting flange are in the form of flat plates and each connecting flange is offset from the pertaining bracket member in a direction away from the bracket member, each bracket member and the pertaining connecting flange being substantially parallel and coextensive in the longitudinal direction, a lateral web extending between each bracket member and the respective connecting flange and connected to the bottom of the bracket member and to the top of the connecting flange, and stiffening ribs formed in each said web and the pertaining bracket member and connecting flange at the junctures thereof for stiffening purposes.

8. A fitting according to claim 7 in which each bracket member has a tab on the said other end thereof bent over toward the other bracket member to form a support for the end of a counterbalancing spring cooperating with said pairs of links tocounterbalance a load on said support platfomneach bracket member having a shield portion bent over in a direction away from the other bracket member at the said one end of the bracket member, and ribs formed at the juncture of each tab with the respective bracket member for stiffening purposes.

9. A fitting according to claim 1 in which said arresting means comprises a shaft extending transversely between and supported on said bracket members and dis- .posed near the pivotal connection of a respective link of each pair of links with the pertaining bracket member, and hooks carried by said bar and engageable with the other link of each pair of links when the links are .in position to hold the supporting platform in working position.

10. A fitting according to claim 9 in which said hooks are closely adjacent said bracket members on the sides thereof which face each other.

11. A fitting according to claim 10 which includes abutment plates on the sides of said bracket members which face each other and adjacent the said one ends of said bracket members, each abutment plate abutting at least one link of the adjacent pair of links when the support platform is in extended working position.

comprises a bar extending in the transverse direction between said bracket members and fixedly connected at each end to a corresponding link of each of the pairs of links.

15. A fitting according to claim 14 in which the ends of said bar are connected to the said one link of each pair of links in the region that .the link is pivotally connected to the respective bracket member. 

1. A fitting adapted for connection to an article of furniture, especially for supporting a machine such as a typewriter or the like therein for movement between extended working and retracted storage positions on the article of furniture, said fitting comprising; two laterally spaced parallelogram bar systems each comprising a bracket member, a connecting flange on each said bracket member for connection thereof to the article of furniture, a pair of parallel links pivotally connected at one end to each bracket member, a support platform pivotally supported on the other ends of said links and adapted for supporting a machine such as a typewriter, at least one said connecting flange being offset relative to the respective bracket member in a direction away from the other bracket member, arresting means operatively disposed between at least one bracket member and said links for retaining said platform in extended working position, said links extending outwardly from one end of said bracket members when supporting said platform in working position and extending downwardly from said bracket members when supporting said platform in storage position, and means connecting corresponding links of said pairs of links to cause the links to pivot on said bracket members in synchronism.
 2. A fitting according to claim 1 in which each said bracket member and the pertaining connecting flange are in the form of flat plates disposed in substantial parallelism.
 3. A fitting according to claim 1 in which each said bracket member and the pertaining connecting flange are in the form of flat plates disposed in substantial parallelism, each said bracket member and the pertaining connecting flange being substantially coextensive in the longitudinal direction.
 4. A fitting according to claim 1 in which each said bracket member and the pertaining connecting flange are in the form of flat plates disposed in substantial parallelism, each said bracket member and the pertaining connecting flange being substantially coextensive in the longitudinal direction, said one connecting flange and the respective bracket member being integral with each other and a further flange extending therebetween in a plane substantially perpendicular thereto and forming the connection between the said connecting flange and the bracket member.
 5. A fitting according to claim 1 which includes a shield member mounted on the said one end of at least the bracket member pertaining to said one connecting flange and extending in the lateral direction.
 6. A fitting according to claim 1 which includes a bearing member at the other end of at least one bracket member, and a counterbalancing spring bearing at one end against said bearing and at the other end cooperating with said parallel links for counterbalancing a load supported on said support platform.
 7. A fitting according to claim 1 in which each said bracket member and each said connecting flange are in the form of flat plates and each connecting flange is offset From the pertaining bracket member in a direction away from the bracket member, each bracket member and the pertaining connecting flange being substantially parallel and coextensive in the longitudinal direction, a lateral web extending between each bracket member and the respective connecting flange and connected to the bottom of the bracket member and to the top of the connecting flange, and stiffening ribs formed in each said web and the pertaining bracket member and connecting flange at the junctures thereof for stiffening purposes.
 8. A fitting according to claim 7 in which each bracket member has a tab on the said other end thereof bent over toward the other bracket member to form a support for the end of a counterbalancing spring cooperating with said pairs of links to counterbalance a load on said support platform, each bracket member having a shield portion bent over in a direction away from the other bracket member at the said one end of the bracket member, and ribs formed at the juncture of each tab with the respective bracket member for stiffening purposes.
 9. A fitting according to claim 1 in which said arresting means comprises a shaft extending transversely between and supported on said bracket members and disposed near the pivotal connection of a respective link of each pair of links with the pertaining bracket member, and hooks carried by said bar and engageable with the other link of each pair of links when the links are in position to hold the supporting platform in working position.
 10. A fitting according to claim 9 in which said hooks are closely adjacent said bracket members on the sides thereof which face each other.
 11. A fitting according to claim 10 which includes abutment plates on the sides of said bracket members which face each other and adjacent the said one ends of said bracket members, each abutment plate abutting at least one link of the adjacent pair of links when the support platform is in extended working position.
 12. A fitting according to claim 11 in which each abutment plate also includes an abutment surface engageable by the adjacent hook when the hook is in arresting position, and spring means biasing said hooks toward arresting position.
 13. A fitting according to claim 12 in which said spring means comprises at least one spring connected between a said hook and the adjacent abutment plate.
 14. A fitting according to claim 1 in which said means connecting corresponding links of said pair of links comprises a bar extending in the transverse direction between said bracket members and fixedly connected at each end to a corresponding link of each of the pairs of links.
 15. A fitting according to claim 14 in which the ends of said bar are connected to the said one link of each pair of links in the region that the link is pivotally connected to the respective bracket member. 